[David B]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

I ran into these questions recently, and your opinions are of course welcome. Pleas note I also posted the questions here: Judgment Questions: - Forums

Thanks for your responses.

Two fairly interesting questions have been brought to my attention recently, I thought I might pass them on for comments:

A. FED question. F1 is in set position, but his pivot foot is not entirely in front of the rubber. Picture it as about a 40* angle, with part in front of the plate, part on top of the rubber. Balk it? Related, Q, can a pitcher stand on top of the rubber (no) in set position, or can he wedge his foot against the front of of the rubber at an angle to the rubber?

My first thought is nope, on all three, since FED 6-1-3 say all of pivot foot "in contact with or directly in front of the pitcher's plate." But the reading here is not quite exact enough in others' opinion.

B. NCAA/OBR: R2, outs don't matter. F1 breaks hands to come home. After hands are broken BR asks for time, but does not step out or make a physical gesture for time. Umpire says "too late". F1 stops, real late in delivery. PU balks F1, saying that BU did nothing to force F1 to stop his motion. F1's pitching coach disagrees. F1 lucky he still has an arm to throw with.

Obviously, the first thought of most guys is to call time and start over. But under what circumstances, if any, does speaking by BR not become a balk?

I agree with those above, you can't be very picky about the pitching rubber since most of them have a big hole in front of them anyway.

On the second play, PU has to make a decision. Either you have time or you don't. If in doubt, I'm going to give the players the benefit of the doubt and call time.

No sense causing problems over something that can be fixed. I have players often raise a hand. I give them time, but I also tell them ask verbally. If nothing else a little education because sooner or later an umpire is going to refuse to give them time and they can say they were warned.

Thanks
David